Sex, drugs and burglary

Madison police say they've cracked a "spider web of activity" involving smash-and-grab burglaries. They've arrested six men in connection with a burglary operation that started in the city last November. Lieutenant Mike Montie says it was extensive. "There were a lot of smash and grab burglaries to stores where they sell TVs," says Montie. "Obviously, we weren't able to charge out every burglary victim." But more arrests are expected.

Police say the burglars were stealing big screen TVs and exchanging them for drugs at a south side crack house. "We were told by some of the individuals that frequented that crack house that women that were coming there for crack, who didn't have money, would perform sex acts in exchange for the drugs," says Montie.

The arrests were made by the department's Blue Net Task Force. In a separate case, the task force has arrested three suspects for a rash of tavern burglaries in Dane and Columbia Counties, and thefts of copper and other valuable metals.